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Join us at DAO Home in Chiang Dao for a focused mud house building residency.
What was once available only through expensive natural building workshops is now offered as a structured volunteer-based learning program — with the same techniques, hands-on training, and site access, but at a more accessible, all-inclusive rate.
You will practise on two mud projects under guidance of expert mud builders
4 hours of help per day
Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Amount: US$ 18 Per day
Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers and Materials for volunteer activities
Description: If booked separately, accommodation and natural building training would be significantly more expensive. Instead, we offer this as a structured learning exchange at a consolidated rate. Your contribution includes: • Hands-on training from experienced local Thai builders • Access to active mud house build sites • Mud-building materials and tool use • Airbnb-style accommodation on-site • Shared meals
1 day off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Discounts on Tours: Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Discounts on Accommodation: Get discounts for your stay in other hostels.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.
Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Yoga classes: Take free yoga classes at our place.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Welcome to the Mudhouse Build at DAO Home in Chiang Dao.
We are building elevated mud homes in Northern Thailand — a project that was previously only accessible through high-priced workshops. Now, we’re opening structured access to serious volunteers who want real, hands-on experience at a more accessible level.
You’ll participate directly in active mud house construction — plastering, shaping, material preparation, mosaics, and structural work — alongside experienced Thai builders. More importantly, we share our blueprint, documentation, and the full journey of how we designed and built these homes in Thailand’s climate.
You’ll gain insight into:
• How we built
• Why we built this way
• What we would improve
• How you could launch your own mud house project
We also take participants on site visits around Chiang Dao to see local natural building and connect with the wider community.
Beyond the build, DAO Home offers:
• Mountain bikes
• Nearby waterfall access (seasonal)
• Ice baths & recovery space
• Yoga & gym studio
• One free Muay Thai class per week
This program is designed for people genuinely curious about building with earth in Thailand — those who want real exposure, real participation, and real understanding.
This program is designed for people who genuinely want to learn mud house construction — not casual volunteering.
There is no rigid clock-in system, but we expect consistency and commitment.
Our team typically works from morning through late afternoon. During hotter months, sessions are scheduled early morning or late afternoon for safety and comfort.
You can expect:
• 3–5 hours of hands-on building per day
• 5 days per week recommended
• Flexible rest days with advance notice
If you feel tired, you may finish earlier. If you are deeply engaged and want to continue learning, you may stay longer on site. The pace depends on weather, project stage, and your energy.
Activities include:
Cob and mud mixing
Wall shaping and plastering
Bottle mosaic detailing
Foundation and structural prep
Material handling and tool use
Understanding sequencing and technique
We provide direct guidance from experienced Thai builders. You will use real tools, learn correct techniques, and gain practical exposure — not just symbolic participation.
Some days may include site visits to observe other natural builds in the Chiang Dao area.
When not building, you’re free to train in the gym, recover in the ice baths, explore by bike, or rest.
This is a working build environment. We value people who are serious about learning, consistent, and proactive in asking questions.
We value respect, curiosity, and community.
Please keep shared spaces tidy, be kind to others, humans and animals, and respect local culture.
Quiet hours after 10:30 PM (except jam nights ;)).
No drugs or excessive drinking.
We welcome creativity, open-mindedness, and teamwork — this is a place to grow, learn, and build together.
Many worldpackers have been applying to this position recently. The host will probably not be able to respond to all of the applications, so we recommend that you also apply to other hosts in our community and not just this one :)
